The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1887-03-02
shonkin Shots.

the top strand of barbed wire fence clad
in linen duster and Phrygian helmet.
while the frigid zephyrs so persistent in
their staying play hide and seek with his
lower extremities. Well, it is a terror.
anyhow, and now days if any one says
anything in reference to the winter of
1e8O-81 he does so at the risk of drub-
bing.
Prof. Foster in his predictions for Feb.
offered to put up money on his opinions,
and said that on the lst, 7th, 18th and 18th
severe storms would take place and in e7-
cry case his prediction has been verified.
The first twenty days of the past month
inclines one to think that the Prof. is
away up in weather calculations.
10 say that the situation is desperate is
to say the plain truth, and when we read
of interviewed persons saying that stock
losses will not be greatly in excess of other
years we are forced to believe that such
persons are saying what they know to be
false.
In this immediate locality Dec. 10th
there was band OF probably 200 head of
stock, mostly natives, with fair crop of
calves. To-day not over one-half of that
band can be found. There has been over
fifty found dead and now days a calf is a
curiosity.
A prominent stoekman said the other
day on being told thas there was to be
nine steamers on the river next season:
"Taint enough. 1t viii require more than
that number to haul the hides away
People who had to run around last fall
hunting buyers for their hay now stay at
home and refuse big prices for straw.
Every body gave sigh of relief when
the sun set February 18th without storm
and many prophesied chinook within "a
hours, but at p. m. heavy snow storm
set in which continued all day on the 10th
making fully eight inches of new snow in
the valley and ten inches is reported in
the mountains with thermometer at % be-
low zero.
Atthis writing, Feb. goth, our signal
service instrument registers 12o below:
barometer rising and wind southwest by
west.
Several large crops of ofVegetables are re-
ported frozen solid in cellars thought to be
frost proof. IF this is the case there are
not enough potatoes in this section for
seeding dozen gardens.
Now just word in regard to the fuel
question. So far as wood is concerned if
Fort Benton is short of that necessary ar
ticle no one is to blame but the people who
live there.
A few years ago when wood sold at SIS
cord in your city one had only to go into
the foot hills of the mountains and load
his wagon without any trouble and as soon
as his load was across the river pur-
chaser was rapidly found. But how
now. The teamster must drive
from three to five miles further into the
heart of the mountains, over roads that
ire rough and hazardous, for the outskirts
Of the mountains have been utterly denud-
ed of timber. For ready cut cord wood be I
must pay from $500 to 1915 per cord in
he hills. IF no cord wood is to be had he
must get out his own load of long wood,
md few can realize the arduous work of /
his undertaking.
He must leave the regular road and by
lint of short pulls and frequent rests force
lis team to draw the wagon up the steep,
ideling incline of some side gulch, per-
laps mile to near the head of it. When
le has arrived at an altitude from which
le can view the whole country from the
Rocky mountains to the Bear Paw range
le is obliged to unhook and with team
hahn and Ak climb still higher on still
teeper hill side, tie his horses to a tree to
eep them from rolling down, then,
Fhile hanging on by his eyebrows chop (
is load at the risk of life and limb.
By repeated trips up and down this al
lost perpendicular mountain he secures
nough wood to load his wagon, which af- {
II being securely chained. rough locks j
djusted and everything in shape the q
ood hawk starts for home. Ifhe arrives Y
lere in safety at dark without having {
apsized, hurt horse or himself, or bro S
IN the wagon he counts himself lucky t
Ideed. v
One day gone! Next day is entirely 8
'ent in driving to the city. Ferriage, q
o.el and livery bills cannot be escaped, 4
ID nothing less than $3.50 will pay ex- /
,nses. h
Two days spent! Next day he tries to fl
III purchaser. Walks from house to c
use and offers his load for less than it K
ally stands him. 'sDon't want any ii
pod. : Can't pay such q price for wood = et
What, charge IS for that jag of poles ~ il
IT enough to last three or four day yet e.
d by that time more will come in.'' W
Such are the replies he gets and when ST